Student Exchange Seeks Host Families for School Year

Sacramento Region, CA (MPG) - Responsible parents looking for ways to supplement the educational and personal growth opportunities for their children should consider hosting a teenage exchange student for an academic semester or year. Children and adults alike, by interacting on a daily basis with a new, international family member, broaden their perspective on the world and discover new facts and ideas.

NorthWest Student Exchange places international high school students with families all over the country, including here in our community. Exchange students add a dimension to the family dynamic that cannot be achieved in any other way. The benefits to the exchange student are perhaps obvious: honing their English language skills; learning about the educational system in this country; understanding U.S. social, political, and cultural values; establishing international friendships. Benefits to the hosts are similar: Not only can host families learn about another culture and its values; they can view the U.S. through another’s eyes, and thereby gain a broader understanding of our own country.

And families do not need to have children at home to host! Many childless couples, empty nesters, and single-parent families have enjoyed exchange students. NWSE places students from dozens of countries who have varied interests. I will do my best to match a student to your family’s lifestyle and interests.

Those who cannot host can earn financial incentives for referring to us families who do host. While host families are not compensated for hosting, tax deductions may be available. Check with your tax preparer.

NWSE exchange students are closely screened for appropriate motivation, academic and language skills; our students have solid emotional and practical support from NWSE professional partners abroad, and from the students’ natural parents in their own countries. Our students come with their own spending money and health and accident insurance. NWSE local Academic Coordinators recruit, screen and orient local host families and provide close support throughout the program.

My family has personally hosted students from France and China and we keep in touch with every student even years later! While they stayed with us, they shared games they play with us and cooked their favorite meals for my family. We also have been invited to stay at their family’s homes when we go to their country. One of our French students even calls me his “American Mom.”

It’s easy to get more information about hosting. Potential hosts can call me, Sheryl Longsworth, Area Coordinator at 916-833-1218 or sheryl6663@yahoo.com; or by contacting NWSE at 877-850-3312 or info@nwse.com. Or, you can visit the NWSE web page at https://www.nwse.com and click on Host an Exchange Student. Student placements for the fall must be made before 8/31/17. Spring semester-only placements will be available towards the end of this year.